Huntsville gazette., 1887-06-11
G. n. & B. r. r.
Strong Speeches in Tennessee by
Col. Sykes and Capt. Dougherty

From lengthy report OF large an
enthusiastic railroad meeting at Liberty
Dekalb county, Tenn, we extract iron
the Herahd's report of the speeches by
Col. Sykes and Capt. Dougherty, the fol
lowing. Speaking of Col. Sykes speecl
it says:
Ills arguments were not confined ex
clusively to any one road but to roads
IN general showing clearly that that
country prospered, and the people grew
IN wealth where road had been built
strong point i'll his speech was. that
railroads, judiciously built and managed,
would lessen the taxes of the people on
account OF the increased valuation Of all
/ property and the excess in prices that
would be realized on all produce exports
ed. This point is a fine one and was
elaborately impressed with many clear
and convincing illustrations. We have
not space to publish his exhaustive ar
gument on this one point, but would ad-
wise the reader to take this as base and
build upon it. Make careful calcula.
ton, from financial standpoint, taking
into consideration the factories that this
country would support, the general in
crease in business, the increase in price
OF 10 cents per bushel ON grain, cent
on cattle, ( cent on hogs, Sl5 per head on
horses and mules and market for gar,
den products that we cannot not use,
and you will be astonished to see the
plausibility in the argument that build
ing and sustaining railroads will dimin-
lsh taxes"
Alabama was cited as an example of
this kind. "a few years ago her tax was
heavy and hard to pay because her coun
try was poor and her expenses great.
Far'seelng men, investigating her re-
sources, discovered the unlimited value
OF her iron, coal and timber and her
great location as manufacturing center. |
realizing these things, they began to |
build railroads all over the state, die out |
the coal and iron, erect factories and she |
has grown so rapidly in wealth that an |
overflowing treasury has demanded a re- !
duction Of the tax
A strong point Of his speech and one |
which he endeavored to impress upon |
our people was the construction of the |
Cincinnati < Birmingham road. He
pointed out advantages that we would |
have by a direct line to the north and |
south, thus affording us the quickest and
best markets for every thing we producel
There were many points in the speech
OF Mr.. Sykes that we can not notice for
lack OF space and are compelled to 50
publish it that it loses much Of its force
and conviction.
Capt. Dougherty, Secretary OF the Gin
clnnah d Birmingham Railroad Co
was the next speaker. His argument
was plain and pointed, and We are assur-
ed that his remarks have done much
good IN relieving the minds OF our peope
in regard to the plans of the company.
He briefly reviewed its history from it's
organization about one year ago to the
present. he pointed out the many OBJ
stacles and adversities they had had 10
overcome, showing that they not only
met the local opposition of many sections,
but that monied corporations had tried
to destroy this, the peoples projected
line. Various similar enterprises had
been lnaugurated to crush it, but thus
far all alike had proven futile and have
themselves strangled and perished in
their own seldshness. These speakeas
read letters and kilograms from the man.
ayers OF the Cincinnati Southern r. r.
promising their support in the enterprise.
The lessees OF the G. S. r. r are London
Bankers, who control unlimited capital
and are insuring the success Of tl,is enter
prise. His entire speech was directed to
the success OF this great line and we are
impressed that no one could have set
forth a more plausible argument in its
favor. He assured our people that the
success OF the enterprise was that ii De-
Ka.b would do her part no county could
deprive her OF this road. The survey of !
the entire route wrs about complete ex-
cept 5 or 10 miles in Dekalb, and when |
that was finished the cost OF building
would be definitely aseertained and work /,
begun.
A Philadelphia man compels his |